Supporting srw with counterforting and inverted cantilevering forces

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a metallic cage (to create inverted cantilevered and counterfort forces) for supporting a retaining wall of hollow-cored blocks, having (a) first vertical (stem, post) insertable into such cores, a base member extending into the retained soil and a diagonal strut member securely connecting the top of first stem with the distal end of the base member embedded in the retained soil, where the base member has a platform on which to locate a suitable weight.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims all priority benefits under 35 U.S.C.sections 119 and 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/862,135,filed Jun. 16, 2019, whose entirety is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to supporting segmental walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Components and systems for supporting segmental retaining walls (SRW) isa challenge in the outerscape industry for ease and expense of storage,transportation, installation and degree of support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cage (to create inverted cantilevered and counterfort forces) forsupporting a retaining wall, comprising: (a) first vertical (stem, post)member with top and bottom ends; (b) longitudinal (base, beam) memberwith first, front end, and opposed, second, rear end; (c) said firstvertical member bottom end connected securely to said longitudinal basemember first end; (d) a longitudinal member (strut, brace) with opposedfirst and second opposed ends that are securely connectable to,respectively, said first vertical member top end and said longitudinalbase member rear end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment is consideredin conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support cage;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cage as installed in an assembled wall;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another cage geometry;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another cage geometry;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of cage geometry of FIG. 1 in closedconfiguration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another cage geometry;

FIGS. 7 to 51 show the sequential steps of installing the cage tosupport a wall;

FIG. 52 is a perspective view and plan view of the effective resistiveeffect of the soil above the anchor portion of base beam;

FIG. 53 is a side view of the resistive effect of FIG. 52;

FIG. 54 is a top, side and axial views of the cage of FIG. 1 whereincage is closed;

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the cage of FIG. 1 wherein cage isclosed and has a secondary strut; and

FIG. 56 is a side view and perspective of the closed cage with slabthereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Notice Regarding Copyrighted Material

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

There are often minimum heights of a retaining wall (set by buildingcode and other regulatory regimes) that implicate (as protection forpedestrians) the establishment of a fence or pedestrian rail, typicallywith posts support. Minimum applied loads on the posts is a function of,amongst other factors, the spacing of posts. The minimum applied loadis, in many applications, in the order of 200 lbs or 50 lbs per linearfoot of fence. One disadvantage of a typical SRW is that, beingmortarless, the top of wall is structurally un-adapted or ill-adapted toresist lateral loads from chain link fences, wood fencing, pedestrianrailings and the like, whether located on the retained soil proximatethe wall, or on the wall itself.

This invention provides horizontal and off-vertical resistance for fencevertical structures that are placed inside the hollow cores of blocks ofa SRW system. Such hollowed blocks are common and for ease ofexplanation herein, such a block or wall assembled therefrom, will beidentified as 900. A fence post (steel or wooden) may be inserted intothe block cores and inter-block cavities of the upper courses of a wall,as supported by the reinforcing (inverted cantilevered andcounterforting) cages as described below.

A support that comprises a (e.g. rebar) cage disposed about the rear ofblocks 900 with some anchorage (e.g. a conventional concrete slab)buried in well compacted soil, can provide the cantilever resistanceneeded to meet the standard building codes. FIG. 1 shows cage 100 in (apre-final assembly) open configuration that includes (in securerelationship when in installed, closed configuration), base member beam105 (with anchor portion frame 107 a thereof, as explained below);first, front vertical stem 110 terminating in first eye 111; and second,rear vertical stem 120 terminating in first eye 121; the stems 110 and120 securely depending vertically from opposed ends of base beam 105.Relative to base beam 105, rear stem 120 and its eye 121 has a heightlower than that of front stem 110 and its eye 111; stem 120 may range inheight (from about zero, where only eye 121 is presented) to a heightcloser to that of stem 110 and its eye 111. Diagonal strut 130 issecurely connectable (and ultimately toward the end of assembly with awall block, securely connected) between first, front stem 110 (at itseye 111), and second, rear stem 120 (and its eye 121), the diagonalresulting from the different heights of the terminal stems 110 and 120.

The heights of stems 110 and 120, the length of diagonal strut 130, thelength of base beam 105 (including the length of anchor portion 107 a asmeasured along the axis between stems 110 and 120) are easilycustomizable relative to dimensions of the associated blocks 900 to beinstalled, and all regulatory requirements relevant to those blocks(including load requirements implicated by the installation site,including characteristics of the soil to be retained, wind conditions,and so on). In particular, cage 100 must be able to envelope the backwall of block 900 in “closed” configuration (i.e. when diagonal strut isconnected to stem 110 (and eye 111) and stem 120 (eye 121), it mustclear the rear edge of block 900. When brace or strut 130 is not (yet)securely connected to both stems 110 and 120, cage 100 is considered“open” (as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, as examples). Cage 100 is considered“closed” when, during the assembly process (as shown in FIGS. 2, 8, asexamples), strut 130 is securely connected to stems 110 and 120.

Herein, the term “secure connection” and related terms (e.g. “securelyconnected”, “securably connectable”, “securely depending from”) in thecontext of the parts of cage 100, means a connection that is secureagainst physical separation but may permit, where appropriate, somelimited rotational/swivel displacement between the parts that areconnected. Conventional hook connectors, rigid welding of sections andbending of components are contemplated.

Herein, the term “strut” and “brace” are used interchangeably as membersto provide support to the cage components they are attached to.

Anchor portion 105 a is that part of base member 105 which associatedwith providing “anchoring” effect to cage 100 installed for a wall, aswill be explained. Anchor portion frame 105 a may be the combination of(1) conventional weight 106 (e.g. concrete or material of equivalentsimilar weight and similar physical properties, in the form of a paverslab or tile) that is (eventually, on final installation) associatedwith (2) frame 107 providing a frame for the aforementioned weight 106to rest on or otherwise be secured therewith. The combination of weight106 and frame 107 is presented herein as a combination of discretecomponents but may be manufactured in an integral combination. FIG. 1shows a particular geometry of frame 107, i.e., kite 107 a. FIG. 56shows cage 100 of FIG. 1 in closed configuration (i.e. with diagonalstrut 130 securely connecting vertical stems 110 and 120 via theirrespective eyes 111 and 121, and with weight slab 106 resting on frame107 a).

Frame 107 may be of varying sizes, weights and geometries, easilycustomizable for the installation site requirements. Conveniently,conventional concrete paver slabs/tiles are available (in standardsizes, for examples, 18″, 24″, 36″ square slabs). Geometries for theanchoring frame include simple, closed quadrilaterals (convex orconcave) and crossed quadrilaterals. Examples of alternatives to frame107 a are convex closed quadrilaterals and curved shapes (e.g. square107 c, circle 107 b, bicentric quadrilaterals, such as right kites,equidiagonal kites), some of which are shown in FIGS. 3-6. Kitesgeometries 107 d and 107 e are notional. For classic, Platonic ornear-Platonic geometries, the mathematics are well known to determineprecisely the geometries and dimensions that optimize frame 107perimeter and/or internal area enclosed per length of frame and/oroptimizes frame 107 surface contact with weight or slab 106 (some ofwhich indirectly affects cost and ease of manufacture). Conventionalpenta-laterals and higher n-laterals and n-gons are possible, asdesired, as a function of ease/difficulty of manufacture, cost ofmaterials. It is anticipated that most practical geometries of frame 107are at least partially symmetric so as not to bias the paver slab 106 inone lateral direction or the other, but conceivable, some asymmetricgeometries of frame 107 and special slabs or weights 106, may beimplicated for unusual site conditions. The point remains that basemember 105 has a platform (frame 107) to accommodate easily a variety ofdifferent weights 106 and their geometries, responsive to siteconditions. If a conventional square slab 206 is insufficient to meetregulatory standards for a particular installation site (e.g. not heavyenough to produce the desired torque resistance), a more weighty versionof weight 106 can be specially made in a factory, perhaps out of heavymetal) (or a heavy boulder found on site with a form-factor suitabilityfor, e.g. circle frame 107 b of FIG. 3 or 107 c of FIG. 4). Forsimplicity of explanation herein, anchor portion frame 107 a (shown inFIG. 1) will be referred to but it is evident that variations can beeasily customized on frame 107 a mutatis mutandi.

Basebeam 105, first and second vertical stems (or studs) 110 and 120,diagonal strut 130, may be integrally made of rebar or sectionally madeof rebar. The anchorage portion need not be a frame made of bent re-bar.It could be a (manufactured) solid plate of metal or other heavymaterial. Or a suitably heavy stone found at the installation site, canbe placed within a circular or square frame (107 b or 107 c in FIGS.3,4) on which a paver rests. In other words, although a rebar wire frameis presented herein, other dimensions, geometries and materials arecontemplated, customized for an installation site's specificgeo-technical requirements (or to use natural materials located on thesite).

Anchorage portion 105 a (being weight 106 located on frame 107) of basebeam 105, resists overturning moments (upwardly and downwardly) beingcreated by the wall, at the base of the wall and at the base of eachcourse of the wall where cage(s) 100 are installed, by creating acountering restoring moment. The geometry of frame 107 of anchorageportion 105 a, its location between first, front stem 110 and second,rear stem 120, the dimensions and physical (especially weight)properties of weight 106 or other object placed on (or otherwise securedto) frame 107, are easy to calculate roughly if the objective of cage100 is to surround the block rear wall with an insertion in any suitablecavity in the block(s).

Advantageously, spacers 800 (conventionally made of rigid plastic,perhaps ¾″ in width) are snap-fitted about cage front stem 110 andinserted between front stem 110 and the inner, rear face of block corebefore the concrete is poured. This better secures the vertical cagestem relative to the block (especially relative to the rear surface ofthe block core, during the poring of concrete in the core) and therebyembed securely the cage to the wall block and thereby the wall.

Spacers 800, especially plastic ones, not only keep stem 110 in properalignment relative to the back wall of the core of block 900, but alsoprovides (to use a human anatomical muscular/skeletal analogy) some“cartilage” functionality for the interaction between (metallic) cage100 (and its forces) and the (concrete blocked) wall (when the blockcores and inter-block cavities are filled with filler and concrete).Plastic resists stretching but has a bit more flexibility than concreteand metallic rebars and so, relative to the desired rigidity of theentirety of the wall, a certain amount of localized “give” and“flexibility” (as provided by such plastic spacers 800 of the desirablephysical attributes), may serve to handle gracefully excessive forces(e.g. by earthquake vibrations) by maintaining the overall structuralintegrity of the wall while avoiding brittleness that could lead tocatastrophic failure.

Localized, “top of wall” overturning is typically investigated when afence or railing is to be placed above and behind a retaining wall. Toresist the overturning moment/force, a countering restoring moment/forceis presented by the support system (and cage 100 in particular),presented herein. An approved anchoring concrete slab or paver willsatisfy engineering, safety requirements about the site, fence andretaining wall, that consider factors among the fence height and desiredinter-post spacing, the lateral loads applied to the fence (e.g.expected wind conditions), the type of soils used as back-fill, anyadditional surcharges such as a roadway or slope above the retainingwall, the geogrid spacing and position in the top portion of theretaining wall.

The rotated “L” portion of cage 100 (i.e. the “L” lying on its long side(i.e. base member 105), with the short side (i.e. stem 110) in rigid(i.e. concreted/gravel gripped) relationship to the block(s) rear walls(of several courses) and thereby rigid relationship to the block(s)),provides an inverted cantilevered force to the wall. Specifically,diagonal strut 130, in conjunction with base member 105 of cage 100,provide counter-forting forces to the wall.

As shown in FIGS. 52 and 53, the resistive effect of the soil abovesquare slab 106 permits an easy model for calculating moments that areused in ultimate calculations for regulatory and physical objectives.With square slab 106 located at a certain distance from wall blocks 900,the model is of an inverted, truncated pyramid. Irregular geometries ofweight 106 make calculations and modelling more difficult but the pointremains that cage 100 (and its platform frame 107) provides means toassist in calculations and ultimately in design of supports for the walland for regulatory compliance.

It is advantageously easy to use a conventional (square, concrete) pavertile or slab 106 to rest on frame 107, and then conventionally overlaywith backfill, etc. The interface between frame 107 and slab 106 may bea simple resting and sandwiching with subjacent and superjacentbackfilled, compacted. But the interface can be made more secure thanmerely the backfill's asperities with frame 107 to resist verticalseparation and/or lateral sliding of slab 106 relative to frame 107.Such more security can be effected with conventional means customizedfor the precise dimensions of the paver and the base member or with ageneric plastic key or other simple obstruction that can be inserted towedge horizontally the concrete paver to abut more securely against therear minor vertical, distal stem (to resist horizontal sliding of thepaver) or an attachment to the rear minor stem just above the abuttingof the paver to the vertical stem (to resist vertical lifting of thepaver).

Shown notionally in FIG. 55, is secondary support strut 131, whose topend is securely connected to an intermediate location on diagonal strut130 and whose bottom end is securely connected to an intermediatelocation on cage base member 105 to resist separation of diagonal strut130 from said cage base member 105 and to resist compression of diagonalstrut. 130 to said cage base member 105. Secondary support strut 131 maybe conventionally formed of a vertically orientated rebar with eye orS-type terminal hooks at each end which, when engaged thereby withdiagonal strut 130 and base member 105, resists separation therefrom.That intermediate location can be chosen (subject to the constraint ofthe presence of weight 106) to advantageously distribute forces forregulatory or physical objectives.

Above, cage 100 has been embodied in a single, two-dimensional,vertically orientated frame with a two-dimensional, horizontallyorientated anchoring frame 107 a—this is the basic form of cage 100.

More extensive embodiments of the cage are contemplated within thepresent invention. For example, there may be additional strut to securecage 100 with a horizontally orientated brace from the neighboringblock, e.g. of a rebar bent with one end connected to a subject cagebase member 105 and the other end with a perpendicular vertical post 110stem that is inserted and secured in place in that neighboring block'sinternal core or a neighboring inter-block cavity with subsequentlypoured concrete and/or compacted gravel. For another example, two cagesof the configuration described above, on the same course, can beconnected with rebar struts extending horizontally therebetween, thestruts having conventional “snap-around” or S- or J-hooks at their endsthat are easily and securely connectable between the two cages'respective base members. For another example, two cages of the formdescribed above, may be located on different courses, and a sufficientlylong rebar strut (with conventional S- or J-hook connectors at the endsthereof, of the type described above) may provide cross-bracing of twocages 100. Simple convex quadrilaterals and crossed quadrilaterals arepossible in conjunction with cage(s) 100 that spans two blocks 900 (butare not illustrated for ease of illustration). These more extensiveembodiments, using the basic form of cage 100 and securely connectingand linking them, serve to make the support into a prismatic (i.e. 3-D)cage that provides both inverted cantilevering force and acounterforting force to larger portions of wall 900 in a coordinatedway, thus distributing the stresses and strains.

Conventional hook and eye or swivel type of connections between rebarcomponents, are contemplated.

The various frame components of the cage can be advantageously formed byusing conventional bending technology on a single conventional rebar (ortwo rebars which are then joined conventionally). Rebars come instandard lengths (e.g. 20 feet, 40 feet) and with conventionaldeformation/crimping technology, can be bent into the configurationsshown, easily and integrally (i.e. without any additional fastening ofsub-portions with their attendant disadvantages). One continuous re-barcan be bent according to conventional techniques to avoid thedisadvantages of assembly, discrete joints, welding, risk of fracturingunder pressure, etc.

Conventional rebars ends can be conventionally bent as desired (tocreate eyes, for example), on the installation site with conventionalmanual techniques and tools. But it is advantageous to have cagespre-formed (at least, partially, typically, in a re-bar factory) usingconventional machinery, and the diagonal strut/brace not being attachedfor ease of transport from manufacturing site to the wall installationsite.

Specifically, the upper J-hook (at the end of diagonal strut 130 to beconnected to the top of the first, front vertical member/post 110) maybe pre-crimped (at a factory, e.g.) for convenience for ease ofconnecting at the installation site. Upper J-hook is dimensioned so thatwith minor manual manipulation by an installation workman, it can beinserted and otherwise fastened easily into eye 111, to create aswivel-like connection. Specifically, the lower (J- or S-) hook ofdiagonal strut 130 may be bent and inserted into the second, rear eye121 at the factory, leaving only the upper ((J- or S-) hook of diagonalstrut 130 physically free (i.e. “open” cage 100)—for advantageousstoring and transportation to the installation site, and ease ofinstallation thereat during the supportive assembly of wall 900. Onlyafter steps of concreting, backfilling, compacting, and the like, isupper hook of diagonal strut 130 securely connected to eye 111 of firstvertical stem 110 (to “close” cage 100 about a block).

Although a rebar is a common component in the concrete construction andhardscape industry, this invention is not restricted to that particularpre-manufactured component. Any longitudinal members with tensilestrength, deformation and other attributes sufficient and perhaps evencustomized for the requirements of an installation site according tothis invention may be used.

One possible set of dimension for a cage given a particular block ofcommon dimensions include: first, major vertical stem of 18″ height,second, minor rear/distal stem of 5″ height, base member of 36″ length,base anchorage portion/component plate 12″ of lateral width, as seen inFIG. 1. Depending on the precise dimensions of a subject block(especially the height of the rear edge of its rear wall) and the numberof courses of blocks to be supported (typically several), the dimensionsof the first, major vertical stem, second minor rear/distal stem. lengthof base member, can be easily worked out by simple geometriccalculation.

A step-by-step assembly and installation of cage 100 in the assembly tosupport wall/block 900 (four courses) and a fence post, is shown inFIGS. 7-51.

1. Level crushed gravel and backfill materials flush to the top of thefourth course.2. Install the third course of the wall block units.3. Place cage 100 between two block units where a fence post isrequired. Cage 100 will be placed in, for example, 18″ intervals.4. Place weight 106 (e.g. patio or paver slabs (18″×18″, 24″×24″ or18″×36″)) on top of anchor portion frame 107 a and against the back stem120 of cage 100.5. Cut and place a 4′×4′ filter fabric behind the first course of wallblocks and at each cage 100 location.6. Hook up cage brace or strut 130 to front stem 110 (eye 111) to“close” cage 100.7. Fold the fabric over the hollow cores around cage 100 that will befilled with concrete. This will protect gravel from migrating into thevoids.8. Fill the exposed wall block cores and backfill the third course levelto the top of the third course blocks.9. Level and compact the backfill materials and sweep the top of thewall blocks clean of gravel.10. Peel back the filter fabric.11. Lay sufficient geogrid on top of the third course of wall blocks.Cut a slit in geogrid at each cage 100 diagonal strut 130 location forpenetration therethrough.12. Unhook cage diagonal strut 130 to place the second course units overthe vertical Cage stem or stud.13. Install the second course of wall blocks on top of the geogrid andthird course blocks.14. Repeat steps 6-10.15. Install the first (and final) course of wall blocks.16. Concrete fill the first three cage 100-block 900 cores and level tothe top of the blocks.17. Place (post vertical) adjustment tools on top of the three wetconcrete wall blocks.18. Level and align the adjustment tools.19. Place the steel fence posts into the tools and slid into the wetconcrete. Clamp post at the right height and let set (for a fewminutes).20. Concrete fill the fourth cage 100—block 900-core.21. Unclamp, remove and place the first adjustment tool on top of thefourth cage 100, repeating steps 17-1922. Install the fourth steel fence cage to the wet concrete23. Repeat the leap frog process with the adjustment tools until allfence posts have been installed along the wall24. Cut a hole into the joint of two cap units that will fit around eachfence post. Glue and place remainder of the caps between each post.25. For wood posts, repeat the same process. The adjustment tools willnot be needed for wood posts, which have their own brackets—the wallcaps will be placed on top of wet concrete before the wood post bracketsare placed into the wet concrete between two block caps. Even for asteel post, the adjustment tool is optional if the installer isconfident of his manual/optical capabilities.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top”,“bottom”, “first”, “second”, “inside”, “outside”, “edge”, “side”,“front”, “back”, “rear”, “length”, “width”, “inner” “outer” and similarterms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms havereference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appearto a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitatedescribing the invention.

Although blocks and connectors of the present invention has beendescribed in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is notintended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on thecontrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, andequivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A method for providing a force for inverted cantilevering and a forcefor counterforting to (the construction of) a retaining wall, comprisingthe steps of: a) assembling blocks, each block having a front wall, anopposed rear wall and two side walls that define a hollow coretherebetween, in a first course and a superjacent second course, eachcourse having an inter-block cavity between two blocks thereof, and inone location thereof, in a half-bond configuration so that in that onelocation, a vertically extending column-like hole is created by aninter-block cavity of one course and a block hollow core of a block ofthe other course; b) assembling a reinforcing cage about one said firstcourse block block's rear wall through its core, the cage being roughlywedge shaped, with its longer base perpendicular to the wall whenfinally assembled longitudinally in final form, having a longitudinalbase/beam member with a front end and a rear end, thereof, a verticalstem/post member depending perpendicularly vertically/rising from saidfirst beam front end, a diagonal brace/strut extending, rising from basemember rear/end to the top of said vertical stem/post member of the basemember front part, with said vertical post member inserted within saidcolumn-like hole; the length of said base member being greater than theheight of said vertical stem/post member (i.e. the base is the majorcathetus and the stem is the minor cathetus)=right scalene trianglewhere the height of said stem member being sufficient, relative to theheight of the rear edge of block rear wall portion to be supported (atleast the height of one course of blocks, often two courses), so thatwhen the strut is connected from top of cage first, front stem to thetop of the second, distal stem, the strut clears the clears the rearedge of any block rear wall and so the cage envelopes a portion of therear wall through its core about its rear wall; and c) filling saidcolumn-like hole with particulate/concrete to secure the cage to thewall blocks.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said base member has asecond, vertical/minor member to which said strut is attached (i.e. atruncated wedge).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step b) ofassembling the cage includes the sub-steps of having diagonal strutunconnected to the stem, inserting the cage vertical stem into the blockhollow core and then connecting front end of diagonal strut to top ofvertical stem, thus forming a triangular assembly, where the base memberhas an anchoring component on which a relatively heavy component, suchas a concrete square paver can rest, said anchoring component being a2-dimension frame in the geometric shape of a quadrilateral (square,bicentric quadrilateral such as a kite), octagonal) or a curved shape,such as a circle.
 4. A cage (to create inverted cantilevered andcounterfort forces) for supporting a retaining wall, comprising: (a)first vertical (stem, post) member with top and bottom ends (b)longitudinal (base, beam) member with first, front end, and opposed,second, rear end; (c) said first vertical member bottom end connectedsecurely to said longitudinal base member first end; (d) a longitudinalmember (strut, brace) with opposed first and second opposed ends thatare securely connectable to, respectively, said first vertical membertop end and said longitudinal base member rear end.
 5. The cage of claim4, further comprising: (e) second vertical member with top and bottomends, the bottom end being securely connected/connectable to saidlongitudinal base member rear end; (f) first elevated eye extendingvertically from said first vertical member top end and second elevatedeye extending vertically from said second vertical member top end whoseelevation is lower than the elevation of said first elevated eye; (g) alongitudinal member (strut, brace) with opposed first and second opposedends that are connectable to, respectively, said first elevated eye andsaid second elevated eye; said longitudinal base member has (towardssaid second end) a 2-D plinth-like support, substructure, for supportinga concrete, anchoring slab, and wherein said support substructure is abending of said longitudinal base member into a square or kite geometry.6. The cage of claim 5, wherein said longitudinal (strut) member firstend has J-hook for a hook-eye, swivel connection with said firstelevated eye.
 7. The cage of claim 6, wherein said longitudinal (strut)member second end is a J-hook pre-crimped in a swivel connection withsaid second elevated eye.